Text Structure
Fruit salad is not only a tasty snack, but it is also very healthy. A fruit salad is a great way to start your morning. It helps you feel fresh. All you need is a bunch of yummy fruits and some toppings. First, make sure that the fruits are fresh. You can choose different types of fruits, such as berries, apples, bananas, and more. Then, wash the fruits well. It is important to eat only clean fruits. Next, cut them into small pieces and mix them in a bowl. Make sure to remove the seeds from the fruits before adding them to the bowl. Finally, add a bit of sugar over the fruits. You can also add lemon juice or fresh cream. Keep it in the fridge for a while before you eat it. There is nothing better than a chilled, healthy dessert!
How is the passage organized?
chronological order
In 1924, Macy’s held its first Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was not the same as it is today. It did not have big balloons like we are used to seeing. It had animals! The animals came from New York City’s Central Park Zoo. The people who worked at Macy’s dressed up like clowns, knights, and cowboys. In 1927, the balloons were added. Funny things have happened with the balloons. One year, all of them burst! Another time, rain got inside the hat of the Popeye balloon. It dripped all over the crowd! The parade has always been fun to watch.
Who did Popeye's wet hat drip on?
Children love playing games. Outdoor games are very healthy. Simply running or playing catch can be fun for children. These games also help them relax. However, these days most children like playing video games or games on computers better. They spend little or no time playing outside. Playing video games does not involve any physical exercise.
Which sentences best retell the ideas in the passage?
C. Playing games outside is good for kids. Kids should spend time outside instead of playing video or computer games.
Growing a garden takes a lot of care. Most flowers must be planted where it is sunny. Also, they need the right amount of water. They cannot be too wet or too dry. Sometimes, gardeners must put plant food in the soil. Gardeners must keep an eye on their flowers every day. A garden is a lot of hard work, but it is worth it.
Why was this passage most likely written?
C. to teach the reader how to grow a garden
Lake of the Ozarks
The Lake of the Ozarks has many activities for visitors. The lake is located in the middle of the state of Missouri. The lake is about 92 miles long. That means there are a lot of places for people to go. Visitors come from all around the state to visit the lake. The lake has many different kinds of fish. So, some visitors come to catch fish. There are many different kinds of parks by the lake. Many visitors come to walk around the parks that are near the Lake of the Ozarks. Children really enjoy the water parks and beaches. It is safe to say that there is something for everyone to do at Lake of the Ozarks.
What is the central idea of the passage?
The Cute Terror
Although cute, mice are common pests. They eat just about everything people eat and even some things people do not, like cardboard boxes, electric wires, and birdseed. Mice are also very unhealthful because they spread germs and diseases. Because mice can squeeze into small spaces, they can be difficult to keep out. Some mice can fit into holes that are as big around as a dime.
However, there are a few things people can do to help get rid of mice without killing them. Setting live traps using pumpkin seeds as bait will surely take care of them. They find these seeds hard to resist. However, mice do not like mint. Therefore, planting or spreading mint around a yard and/or garden will help keep them away. There are some sprays on the market that are useful as well.
How is the text above organized?
Problem/Solution
Turn Out the Lights!
You take time to get ready for bed. Your brain needs time to get ready for bed, too. As the sun sets, your brain gets ready to do something wonderful. The wonderful part happens after you fall asleep. But your brain needs an hour or two before bedtime to get ready. About four hours after you fall asleep, a gland in your brain makes something like a "sleep potion." This keeps you in a deep sleep. Then your body takes this "potion" and starts working like a factory. Your body burns fat and strengthens cells to keep you healthy. This all happens while you sleep!
Sunlight has UV light that tells your brain to stop making you sleep. Screens, such as cellphones and tablets, have UV light. Playing on a screen before bedtime sends your brain wrong information. UV light keeps your brain in "awake mode." When you go to sleep in your dark room, your brain stays in "awake mode" even while you sleep. This causes your brain to make the "sleep potion" two hours late. Then, your body does not have enough time to do its wonderful job. So, you will be sleepy when the sun rises.
Which conclusion can be drawn from this passage?
C. Screens should be turned off hours before bedtime.
Rivers and Their Journey
Rivers usually begin near the foot of a hill or mountain and flow downwards. They receive water from rain or melting snow. Sometimes, rivers also begin from springs or lakes. All rivers end their journey after meeting a sea, an ocean, or a lake. At the beginning of their journey, they run deep and flow with great speed.
On their way down, small streams join the rivers. When they reach the plains or flat surfaces, they become wider. During its long journey, the course of a river is rarely straight or direct. The course is affected by the force of the water and the type of land across which the river flows. Toward the end of its journey, the speed of a river reduces. The place where a river meets the sea or ocean is called the mouth of the river.
Which is the best retelling of this piece?
C. Rivers begin in the hills, mountains, or lakes, flow downward, and take a long course before meeting a sea, ocean, or lake.
Maureen Reed by Maureen Reed
I was not like most little girls. I never played with dolls. I never pretended to be a princess. I knew that I did not want to be a princess. I wanted to play the drums. My mom said I could do both. I did not believe her. The princesses on TV never played the drums.
I played the drums on trashcans, pots, boxes, and the bathtub. Finally, my mom let my dad buy me a drum set. I started a band before I even knew how to play the drums. That was okay, though. None of my friends knew how to play their instruments.
Once we were good enough, we started playing songs for people. After that, we recorded some songs and played for people all over the country. Fifteen years later, we travel around the world playing songs. When people ask my daughter what I do for a living, she says, "My mommy is a rock star!"
What is the purpose of the passage?
B. to put the events in order of how Maureen Reed became a musician
Alaska became the 49th state in the United States on January 3, 1959. It is the largest state in the country. The state is known for its tall mountains. It is home to the tallest mountain in North America. This mountain is called Mount McKinley. It is 20,230 feet tall. Mount McKinley is also called Denali. Denali means "The Great One." Many people visit Alaska to see the mountains and the glaciers. Glaciers are huge blocks of ice that have formed over many years. They are made of snow that has frozen solid. Alaska has about 100,000 glaciers.
This passage is mostly about
D. Alaska.
A hot air balloon can float in the sky to give its passengers a view of the land below. Hot air is fired into the balloon, and the surrounding cool air keeps the balloon floating. This is because hot air is lighter than cool air. The balloon is large enough to hold enough hot air to make it float.
How is this passage organized?
Mount St. Helen’s
Most volcanoes in the United States are considered dormant. A dormant volcano is one that has not erupted in recent history and is unlikely to erupt in the near future. One exception is Mount St. Helen’s, a volcano located in the state of Washington.
Like many volcanoes, Mount St. Helen’s is located above layers of the earth that are pushing together. These layers, called tectonic plates, are responsible for volcanic activity as well as earthquakes.
In the spring of 1980, the residents of southwestern Washington were prepared for a volcanic eruption. Several recent earthquakes had occurred. Also, many people had noticed steam rising from the top of Mount St. Helen’s. Scientists and local authorities advised the residents to leave the area.
Sure enough, on the morning of May 18, 1980, there was a powerful explosion of lava and rock. A column of volcanic ash rose high into the air. The plume of smoke could be seen from hundreds of miles away. In fact, ash traveled so far that it was deposited in 11 U.S. states!
Two years later, the land surrounding Mount St. Helens was turned into a monument. The monument allows future generations to learn more about volcanoes and their effects on the land.
The reader can conclude from the selection that Mount St. Helen's is
Read the paragraph.
There are certain animals that can live on land as well as in water. These animals are known as amphibians. Most amphibians lay eggs in water, and as the eggs hatch, the animals continue to grow in water. Once they start growing older, the gills that help them breathe underwater change into special organs. These organs help them breathe on land.
Which sentences best retell the paragraph?
D. Amphibians are animals that can live both on land and in water. Most amphibians lay and grow from eggs. As they grow older, their organs change, which helps them to breathe on land.
Playing jacks can be very fun. All you need is a hard, flat surface, 15 jacks, and a small rubber ball. To play, first, toss 15 jacks onto the flat surface. Next, toss the ball into the air with one hand. Only let it bounce one time while grabbing a jack with your tossing hand. Then, quickly catch the ball before it bounces a second time. Continue tossing the ball and grabbing one additional jack on each turn. For example, on the second turn, grab two jacks and catch the ball before it bounces a second time. Keep going until five jacks are grabbed at one time. If the target number is missed on any turn, start over with one jack.
The purpose of this passage is to
B. instruct readers on how to play jacks.
D. Antarctica has fascinated people for many centuries.
Unlike the Nike Free 5.0, the Nike Free 3.0's upper (the part of the shoe that covers the top of the foot) includes a large patch of mesh and a tongue. The mesh lets the 3.0 breathe better than the 5.0. The tongue is thinner than any other material on the shoe, and rarely stays in place. Since the 5.0 did not have a tongue, this was not a problem. The 3.0 also features the solid heel that the 5.0 lacks. The solid heel makes the back half of the 3.0 stiff. A person who has flat feet quickly finds that the stiff heel rubs the ankles, causing discomfort. The Lycra heel on the 5.0 does not have this problem.
How is this passage organized?
compare and contrast
Rattlesnakes
Scientists have studied rattlesnakes for hundreds of years, yet, there continue to be myths about these snakes.
The snake's rattle, which lends it its name, contains hard, loose parts made of the same material found in human nails. When cornered, the snake shakes its tail to make a rattling noise. Researchers used to think that the number of rattles on a snake indicates its age. However, it is now known that each time a rattlesnake sheds its skin, it adds a rattle. These snakes shed their skins about four times a year, and often the rattles break off.
Research shows that rattlesnakes have deep social ties. Mothers and babies are known to stay together until babies first shed their skin. Mothers keep their young close to them. If they sense any threat, they shake their rattles and adopt a threatening posture. Studies also show that some rattlesnake young even return to their mother's den after they have grown up.
Volumes of literature exist on rattlesnakes. It is clear, however, that more research will continue to be conducted to understand the characteristics of rattlesnakes.
What can the reader infer about rattlesnakes based on the passage?
C. Rattlesnakes have qualities that are similar to humans
Turn over a bag of potato chips. Is the label interesting? A simple food recipe may use several ingredients. These come from the soil and from chemistry labs around the world. Surprises also show up in the labels on clothing and other products. Look at the label on a package of lipstick. The tube seems small and shiny, but inside lipstick there is soap, oil, fish scales, and wax!
What is the best way to summarize this passage?
Coast redwoods are the tallest trees in the world. The tallest one measures at 379 feet. These trees are found in southern Oregon and in northern and central California. The trees live within 50 miles of the coast because they depend on moisture from the Pacific Ocean to help them survive dry summers. They also need a rainy winter season to help them grow. If the conditions are right, the coast redwoods can grow two to three feet in height in one year. If they do not get enough rain and sunlight, they may only grow one inch in a year.
This passage was most likely written to
A. inform readers about the growth habits of coast redwoods.
Public libraries exist around the world, with a history that dates back to England in the 1600s. Public libraries are funded by taxes, and are open to all community members. They provide the community access to large collections of books, magazines, and other resources. Research shows that public libraries help to raise literacy rates, and provide access to computers for those who would not have it otherwise. The public is able to check out books for free, as long as they take care of the books and return them on time.
In recent years, library fines for overdue books have increased to prevent members from returning books late. However, there is no evidence that increased fines reduce the number of overdue books. Because of this, many community members believe the increase is unfair to those who cannot afford to pay the higher fines. Members may even avoid the library in order to prevent the possibility of fines.
What is the central idea of the first paragraph?
The decade of the 1920's launched two literary stars: Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was three years older than Hemingway. In 1920, Fitzgerald published a successful first novel. At that time, Hemingway was an unknown short story writer in Paris.
Hemingway and Fitzgerald met in Paris in 1924. Hemingway was already friends with many famous writers. However, he had not yet become famous himself. Fitzgerald let him read a draft of his novel, The Great Gatsby. Impressed, Hemingway decided that he ought to try writing novels.
Fitzgerald was an early supporter of Hemingway's writing. He helped Hemingway by introducing him to his editor. Fitzgerald also helped Hemingway with the writing of his first novel, The Sun Also Rises. For example, Fitzgerald advised Hemingway to delete the first 30 pages of the book. Many critics today think that this deletion improved the novel.
F. Scott Fitzgerald died tragically at the age of 44. Hemingway, meanwhile, went on to publish a number of successful novels. In one of his books, A Moveable Feast, Hemingway devotes a chapter to his friendship with Fitzgerald. In it, he criticizes Fitzgerald for rewriting his stories in order to sell them. In general, he portrays Fitzgerald as an unstable person who wasted his talent.
If headings were added to the passage, which of these would be most appropriate for paragraph 2?
B. A Meeting of the Minds
Crude oil is perhaps the most useful and versatile raw material that has become available for exploitation. By the mid-1980s, worldwide production was 53.4 million barrels a day. The world's reserves of crude oil add up to about 700 billion barrels, over half of which are in the Middle East. It is likely that some additional discoveries will be made of new reserves in coming years, and new technologies will be developed for more efficient recovery from known resources. Many experts believe that the supply of crude oil will probably extend into the 21st century, but probably not much longer.
Which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?
New energy sources will be necessary in the future.
Emu
The emu is a large, flightless bird found in Australia. Many years ago, this bird was also found in Tasmania and King Island, but today, it is only seen on the Australian mainland. It is unofficially considered the national bird of Australia and appears on the nation's coat of arms.
The emu is the second largest bird in the world, behind the ostrich. On average, the male emu is 5.5 to 6 feet tall and weighs around 130-150 pounds. The female emu is larger and heavier than the male. The emu has a set of wings that it flaps to stabilize itself while running or hunting. The emu also has strong legs that help it cover long distances. Unlike the ostrich, the emu's feet have three toes which give it better speed and stability.
Which choice is the best summary for this passage?
D. The emu is the second largest bird in the world. It is a flightless bird with long, strong legs, found in Australia.
At a recent meeting at the town hall, members of the Bridge Authority tried to calm angry island residents. They said that no decision has been made about where to build a new bridge connecting the island with the mainland. But island residents are still concerned about where the bridge will be located. They don’t want the bridge near their homes. Several of the residents attended the meeting to make it clear that a bridge near their homes would be unacceptable. A spokesman for the residents said, "We want to make clear where we don’t want the bridge. We will continue fighting it until we draw our last breath."
The people were assured that it hadn’t been decided where the bridge was to go. Bridge Authority representatives said that many things would be considered before the bridge is built. David Quinn, chief engineer, told residents, "We believe the bridge will be beneficial to the island and the mainland. The new bridge will divert some of the traffic that is currently going over the old bridge." The residents left angry and unhappy.
Which of these best describes the author's tone in this passage?
A. matter-of-fact
Public libraries exist around the world, with a history that dates back to England in the 1600s. Public libraries are funded by taxes, and are open to all community members. They provide the community access to large collections of books, magazines, and other resources. Research shows that public libraries help to raise literacy rates, and provide access to computers for those who would not have it otherwise. The public is able to check out books for free, as long as they take care of the books and return them on time.
In recent years, library fines for overdue books have increased to prevent members from returning books late. However, there is no evidence that increased fines reduce the number of overdue books. Because of this, many community members believe the increase is unfair to those who cannot afford to pay the higher fines. Members may even avoid the library in order to prevent the possibility of fines.
What is the second paragraph mostly about?
B. Libraries have increased fines for overdue books to prevent members from returning the books late.